… Continued

There are many stories that prove that Hajj was never an easy task and that the extensions of the Sacred House, the spread of general security in the land and the inventions of the modern age caused a great deal of facilitation and that crowdedness is not something new or a problem from which our predecessors did not suffer. In the past, the crowds included people, riding animals and cattle. People used to perform the rituals while sitting on their animals. This has been largely alleviated in our times as no one throws pebbles or performs Tawaaf while riding on their mounts.

However, the preceding generations realized that Hajj is an act of worship and Jihaad that is not free from intended tolerable discomfort or incidental, avoidable discomfort. The latter is that which should be removed if possible without violating the injunctions regarding Hajj. However, tolerable discomfort is the foundation of the injunction and it is the trial for which Allah created all creation. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed} [Quran 67:2]

This discomfort denotes some of the perfect justice of Allah as He created the creatures and He is most Knowing about what they do, but He associated their reward with fulfilling His injunctions after He created them in toil.

Many ordinary Muslims realized this in the past and the present. Thus, they sought the reward of the discomfort they find in Hajj; rather, they loved this journey to the blessed places and enjoyed moving between the holy sites to perform the rituals, evoking special emotions within them towards those places.

These are the places that were blessed with inspiration and revelation and visited by Jibreel and Meekaa’eel, may Allah exalt their mention. The angels and the Spirit ascended from them. The sounds of exalting and glorifying Allah reverberated throughout their corners. They encompass scenes of virtues and blessings, evidences and miracles, rituals of the religion, holy sites of Muslims and places where the master of the Messengers and the last of the Prophets stood and where his message started and spread. They are in the land of miracles, famous since the time of Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, and the birthplace of the heavenly messages since the time of Aadam, may Allah exalt his mention.

Prophets, Messengers, martyrs and the truthful headed towards it and the allies of Allah and the righteous performed Hajj thereto. Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, made profuse supplications therein and Ismaa‘eel, may Allah exalt his mention, dwelt between its corners. It is loved by all those who were raised therein. These places deserve that souls long for them and that people offer the most precious of their money, simply to gain the satisfaction of reaching them. The Holy Sanctuary deserves to be glorified and the Sacred Precincts to be respected. How can souls not feel ease and affinity therein and love what they find therein even if the distance seems too far and the discomfort doubled?

Unlike sinners who enjoy disobedience, the hearts of those who love Allah The Almighty find affinity and pleasure in obedience and enjoy acts of worship even if they experience discomfort therein.

The impact of the holy sites and the Hajj rituals are not exclusive to the souls of the people of righteousness and obedience; rather, it is felt by ordinary people as well. How many times did you see someone in the Sacred House of Allah, who perhaps has committed a forbidden act, proceeding on the road after a tiring journey with determination, driven by longing for the Honored Ka‘bah, challenging the impediments of the road and overcoming difficulties and hardships out of yearning for the Ancient House? The moment he sees the House, he forgets the long distance and the hardships and difficulties he faced. He focuses on the scene before him and perhaps sheds tears. His words and deeds show clearly that Allah The Exalted answered the call of the Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention (which means): {So make hearts among the people incline toward them.} [Quran 14:37]

Ibn Katheer said, "There is not a Muslim who does not long to see the Ka‘bah and perform Tawaaf, as people head towards it from all directions and regions" and yearn to performing the rituals regardless of their different regions and countries.